DR CRIPPEN
UK, 1962, 98 minutes, Black and white.
Donald Pleasence, Coral Browne, Samantha Eggar, Donald Wolfit, James Robertson Justice.
Directed by Robert Lynn.
Dr Crippen is a well-made portrait of the doctor who in 1910 was hanged for murder of his wife. The film opens with the court sequences and has several flashbacks to portray the doctor, the character of his wife' and the fact that she would incite many people to murder her and the relationship of the doctor with his young secretary. The film then moves backwards and forwards from the court to the career of Dr Crippen.
Donald Pleasence is excellent as Dr Crippen, a quiet character, yet quite passionate underneath the respectable surface. Coral Browne is excellent as his blowsy wife. Samantha Eggar, in an early role, is the secretary. Donald Wolfit, in his customary manner, chews the scenery as the lead prosecutor. James Robertson Justice is the captain of the ship on which Dr Crippen and Ethel Le Neve fled to Canada and were apprehended on their arrival there.
The film portrays Dr Crippen, American-born, living in London with his American wife, a burlesque singer. They take in boarders. She flirts with all the men. Frustrated, he takes up with his very attractive young secretary. Exasperated, Crippen gives his wife some medication for her hypertension and the film questions whether he did deliberately murder her or it was an accident or there was some other explanation.
In a moving finale to the film, Crippen talks over what he has done with the prison governor which could have meant that he could have pleaded guilty to manslaughter. However, with what happened to him, he felt his life was over.
1.The impact of the film? The 1910 setting? The period? Dr Crippen, his practice, his marriage? Relationships? The court case? His execution?
2.The black and white photography, the sets and decor and costumes of the period? Musical score?
3.The structure of the film: the court case, the witnesses, the flashbacks, returning to the court? The final decision and judgment?
4.Dr Crippen as a character, as portrayed by Donald Pleasence, his appearance, manner? Reserved? His putting up with Belle? The attraction towards Ethel? The tantrums? The medication? The contrast of seeing him in the dock and with the flashbacks? The death, his behaviour in the court, his going on the boat with Ethel, the disguise, his being found out? The arrest? His final discussion with the governor of the prison? Wanting to be buried with Ethel's photos?
5.Belle, blowsy, singing, the music hall, with the guests? Her treatment of Dr Crippen? Contempt? Continually criticising him? Then breaking down, showing a more gentle side? Her loneliness? His giving her gifts, her buying dresses? Her antagonism towards Ethel? Her continually berating him? Her death? Understandable?
6.The contrast with Ethel, at work as a secretary, young and prim, the infatuation with Dr Crippen? Her love for him? Her thinking that Belle had gone back to the United States? Leaving with Crippen, disguising herself as a boy, on board, her femininity, the captain seeing through the disguise? The arrest on arrival in Canada?
7.Donald Wolfit as R.D. Muir, his chewing up the scenery, his work for the prosecution? The accusations?
8.James Robertson Justice as the captain, the discussions with Doctor Crippen, with the crew, recognising him, sending the message to London, the arrest on arrival in Canada?
9.Dr Crippen, his practice, his medical skills, his clients? The members of his staff? The ordinary setting?
10.The burial of the body, his decision to do this, deceiving Ethel? The possibility that he did not murder his wife? Yet the burial? The decision that he should be executed? His explanation of himself, his feeling guilty, his life coming to an end?
11.The reason for his notoriety in England? The value of this kind of film in presenting his character, the situations, his guilt or not? And the issue of capital punishment?
